As Director of USF’s Center for Brownfields Research and Rehabilitation, I am struck by how much progress has been made in the redevelopment of brownfields sites in our country. We have many national, state, and local policies that help to redevelop sites and improve the conditions in neighborhoods. But, we still have a long way to go.
It is clear that some of the biggest challenges in the coming years will be how we can make our communities more sustainable. Brownfield redevelopment provides an opportunity to rethink how we construct our urban landscape. Can we make our cities more connected to the natural environment? Can we develop our communities without the need for cars or other expensive infrastructure? Can we design our communities so they promote healthy lifestyles? All of these will be important questions in the coming years for our center.
Please take some time to look around this website. There are links, resources, and center publications. Much of the research of the center focuses on the Tampa Bay region, although we are interested in brownfields around the world. In the current worldwide economic downturn, we have opportunities to rethink how we develop our cities. Surburban sprawl is less attractive, and urban living makes much more sense to people. Brownfield redevelopment will be a key avenue by which we redesign our cities into more livable environments in the coming years.
Robert Brinkmann, Ph.D.
